Explanted heart (rat or guinea pig) in the Langendorff-apparatus. The Langendorff-method allows retrograde perfusion via Aorta of the cardiac tissue, whis is against the normal flow direction with Ringer solution. The heart will be supplied with normal saline and oxygen and can survive several hours in this condition. It is also able to contract spontaneously or under electrical stimulation. If the heart is perfused with enzymatic solutions, isolated cells (myocytes) will be harvested. These cardiac myocytes can be used for testing new pharmaceutical substances.

Cardiac myocytes

After enzymatic isolation millions of normally rod-shaped myocytes are harvested. The cell length is 150-200Âµm. The sarcomer structure is clearly visible. Under electrical stimulation the cells show electrical activity and contraction.

Sequence chromatogram

The sequence of bases can be analyzed by the sequence chromatography. So a genetic defect can be detected.